Krishna, the meal that astonishes heaven
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
ज्यां जैसी आवडी त्यां तैसा विभाग । देत पांडुरंग तृिप्त जाली ॥1॥
मुखींचें उिच्छष्ट हिरोनियां खात । वििस्मत विधाता देखोनियां ॥ध्रु.॥
दिलें जें गोपाळां तें नाहीं कोणासि । वििस्मत मानसीं सुरवर ॥2॥
देव ॠषि मुनि सिद्ध हे चारण । शिव मरुद्गण चंद्र सूर्य ॥3॥
तुका ह्मणे आले सकळ हि सुरवर । आनंदें निर्भर पाहावया ॥4॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
To each according to their desire, Panduranga distributed portions, and all were satisfied. He snatched morsels from their mouths and ate them, astonishing even the Creator who watched. What He gave the cowherds is available to no one else; the gods themselves were amazed in mind. Gods, sages, munis, siddhas, celestials, Shiva, the Maruts, the sun and moon, all came, filled with bliss, just to watch. Says Tuka, all the divine hosts arrived, overflowing with joy, to behold this sight.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
To each as he liked, Panduranga handed out portions, and everyone was satisfied. He snatched the half-eaten morsels from their mouths and ate them, and the Creator was amazed to see it. What He gave the cowherds is given to no one else; the gods were astonished in their hearts. Gods, sages, munis, siddhas, celestial singers, Shiva, the Maruts, the moon and the sun, all came, full of bliss, just to watch. Tuka says: every one of the divine hosts arrived, brimming with joy, to behold it.
What it means
Tukaram is marveling at how God shares food with His cowherd friends. Panduranga gives each boy the portion he wants and even eats the leftover, spit-touched morsels straight from their mouths, an intimacy so far beyond ceremony that the Creator Himself is stunned to watch. The point is that this nearness, this eating from the cowherds' hands, is granted to no one else, and the whole of heaven knows it. So gods, sages, siddhas, Shiva, the wind-gods, the sun and moon all gather, not to be served, but simply to witness a love that the highest beings can only stand and admire.
Krishna Leela
Poems celebrating Krishna's birth, childhood, and divine play.
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